Wedding Cakes Buying Guide

From traditional cakes  to over-the-top confections, your wedding cake  can be one of the most memorable pieces of the wedding reception.  If you want to love both the look and the taste, it's important to do some research and keep your expectations realistic before making this sweet purchase.

Things to Consider

• Time: The best cake designers can be booked up to a year in advance, so start your search early. You will also want to leave the baker  enough time to plan and fill your order.
• Venue Regulations: Some places require that you use an in-house baker, or may charge a fee for using your own.
• Price: The cost of the cake is usually calculated per slice, but the baker may also take into account how labour-intensive the design is--i.e. numerous layers, detailed decorations,  etc. It is likewise important to consider how the cake will be shipped. Most bakers include delivery costs in the price.
• Ingredients: Do any of your guests have special allergies? Are you looking for an organic  cake? Factor in these considerations before purchasing your item.
• Size: Cakes be as high as five tiers, if not more. Make sure that if you are purchasing a taller cake, that your reception space can accommodate it.
• Style: Do you want a flowery cake?  How about a fancy one with feathers  or pearls?  Or maybe you want rows and rows of cupcakes instead of the traditional dessert. Whatever you choose, it's best to think about design before you start shopping. This way, you won't be overwhelmed by your choices!
• Choosing a Baker: Once you've done your research, meet with your top three bakers to look at their portfolios and sample what they have on hand.

Savoury Style

Classic  A classic cake is often three-tiered, white or off-white in colour, and has minimal decorative embellishments.  Cream flowers and elegant icing scrollwork are staples that help keep the cake looking classy without overshadowing the rest of the wedding décor.	Over-the-Top  If you want your cake to be as eye-catching as the rest of your venue, there are plenty of options.  Some of the trendiest cakes have cascading sugar flowers,  several layers, vibrant colours or crystal encrusted cake toppers.	Modern  Modern wedding cake design is much like modern home design-- the lines are clean and the overall look is sleek.  Most modern cakes veer from the traditional round layers and are modelled as square or rectangular instead.  Patterns are often symmetrical and used sparingly.	Casual  If you're having a fun family wedding in your big backyard, a traditional cake may not fit with your laid-back setting.  Casual cakes sport fun designs like polka dots, faux ribbons, and cream flowers with vines.  Comical cake toppers can also add more of a whimsical feel.	Custom  From multi-shaped moulds to monograms, custom cakes can help make your wedding one of a kind.  If your wedding has a beach theme, shape your cake like your favourite summery item.

Fantastic Fillings

Not sure how to fill your cake? Check out the list below and consider which flavour you like best. Keep in mind that many of these flavours can be mixed together, producing creations such as strawberry and chocolate and lemon curd and vanilla. Delish.

• Buttercream 
• Chocolate Fudge 
• Chocolate Ganache 
• Fruit: Strawberry,  Orange,  Lemon,  Raspberry 
• Madeira 
• Traditional Fruitcake 
• Vanilla  
• White Chocolate 

Cake Accessories

Cake Toppers Cake toppers can range from the traditional bride and groom  to vintage  items or animals.  They can be humorous or serious, fancy or toned-down. Check out our guide to see your options.	Cake Decoration   The number of ways to decorate your cake are endless. There's lots of fun items you can use like cake monograms  and Swarovski crystals  to make your creation look special.	Cake Stands  Depending on how large your cake is, you might want to purchase a cake board  or even a two  or three tiered cake stand.

Money-Saving Tips

• Tiers of individually decorated wedding cupcakes  are both trendy and inexpensive.
• Having a smaller cake for show and sheet cake  for eating may be a good way to save cash.
• False tiers create the illusion of a grander wedding cake without the added price.
• If you're a master baker but not a great artist, make the cake yourself and leave the decorations to the professionals. It could cut the cost in half!
• Buy a plain cake from a baker or the supermarket and decorate it yourself with fresh flowers  and lace trim. 

Storing the Cake

Traditionally after the reception, newly-weds will save the top tier of their cake and freeze it until their 1 year wedding anniversary. In order to store the cake properly, follow these few simple steps:

• Step 1: Take all decorations off the cake. If there are small decorations made with frosting,  you can leave these on.
• Step 2: If you are storing your cake on a cardboard plate, make sure to remove the plate and wrap it in foil  before placing the cake back on top of it. This way, your cake won't taste like the cardboard a year later.
• Step 3: Place the cake unwrapped in the freezer for about twenty minutes, allowing the icing to firm up.
• Step 4: After you have refrigerated the cake for twenty minutes, wrap it very carefully and tightly in plastic wrap.
• Step 5: Placing your cake in a storage container  will help protect it further.
• Defrost: When defrosting the cake, do it slowly. Let it defrost in the refrigerator for two hours and then take the wrapping off and continue to defrost it there. Then, let the cake rest at room temperature for a short period of time. Then, it's ready to be enjoyed!

Seasonal Cakes

Below, a few decorating ideas for your cake no matter what the season.

Autumn  Think autumn colours like reds, oranges, yellows and browns. Maple or oak leaf decorations with apples  and pumpkins  can give the cake a cool harvest feel.	Winter  Since the cake is already white, all you will need is a little bit of sparkle to make it look like snow. Also, consider wintery decorations like snowflakes,  pine needles,  or pine cones.  Flowers like white lilies  or roses  for a February wedding will accent the cake nicely as well.	Spring  Think about the blooming flowers of spring, like sunflowers  or peonies,  to give your cake some life and complement the green theme. Bright pastel colours and butterfly or bird designs are a nice touch too.	Summer  Lots of fruit is in season during the summer, so consider decorating your cake with strawberries  or other fresh berries.  Furthermore, there are lots of options for flowers, like multicoloured roses  or calla lilies.  Colours can vary depending on your wedding theme, but be careful when choosing your frosting--whipped cream and buttercream icing will tend to melt in the hot sun.

Related Guides

Choosing a Wedding Date	Wedding Countdown Checklist	Wedding Gowns	Cake Toppers	Wedding Vendors

External Links

• TheKnot.com: Photos and information on some of the most popular wedding cake trends.
• Cheap-Wedding-Solutions.com: Tips on how to save money in your wedding, from the cake to the gown and more.